Many people have asked me the question time after time why people go through hard things and why God would allow stuff to happen to them. First of all, I don’t always think that it is directly God’s fault for we have a free will and the choice to make our own decisions and have to pay the consequences. But I found in the bible the following passages, (I’ve read it before but it never rang so true or relevant.)

“Now I am happy, not because you were made sad, but because your sorrow made you change you lives. You became sad in the way God wanted you to, so you were not hurt by us in any way. The kind of sorrow God wants makes people change their heart and lives. This leads to salvation and you cannot be sorry for that. But the kind of sorrow the world has brings death. See what this sorrow—the sorrow God wanted you to have—has done to you: It has made you very serious. It made you want to restore yourselves. It made you angry and afraid. It made you want to see me. It made you care. It made you want to do the right thing. In every way you have regained your innocence.”
-2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Here’s one example of a truly God-fearing, God-following servant (Paul) that went through so much hardship…

“Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of thirty-nine lashes with a whip. Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost stoned to death. Three times I was in ships that wrecked and one of those times I spent a night and a day in the sea. I have gone on many travels and have been in danger from rivers, thieves, my own people, the Jews and those who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger with false Christians. I have done hard and tiring work and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty, and many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes. Besides all this, there is on me everyday the load of my concern for all the churches. I feel weak every time someone is weak and I feel upset ever time someone is led into sin. If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show I am weak. God knows I am not lying. He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is to be praised forever.
So I would not be too proud of the wonderful things that were shown to me, a painful physical problem was given to me. This problem was a messenger from Satan, sent to beat me and keep me from being too proud. I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. Be He said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. For this reason I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings and all kinds of troubles for Christ. Because when I am weak, then I am truly strong.” -2 Corinthians 11:24-31, & 12: 7-10

   "93 million miles from the blistering surface of the sun, hangs the planet earth. A rotating sphere perfectly suspended in the center of the universe. The ultimate creation from an infinite mind, an unbelievably intricate complex design. A supernatural testimony, an irrefutable sign, that there is a God. The size, position and angle of the earth are a scientific phenomenon to see. A few degrees closer to the sun we’d dissenigrate, a few further away we’d freeze. The axis of the earth is tilted at a perfect 23 degree angle and it’s not mistake that it is. This allows equal global distribution to the rays of the sun making it possible for the food chain to exist. Or take for example the combination of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere we breathe everyday. It just happens to be the exact mix that life needs to prosper; it doesn’t happen on any other planet that way. You see, the bible says the invisible things of God are clearly seen through His creation, to believe, this is not hard. If there’s a design, there’s a designer, if there’s a plan there’s a planner, and if there’s a miracle, there is a God. There is a hope, there is a light, there is an answer to all answers, there is a flame that burns in the night, and I know, there is a God. The scripture says the heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies proclaim the work of His hand. If we allow our minds to drink in all the truth that surrounds us, creation itself will help up understand. Did you know the moon controls the tide; it’s the maid that cleans the ocean. Even the waves don’t crash the shores in vain. The tide drives impurities into the depths of the sea, its nature’s constant recycling chain. It simply boggles the mind to think that the stars will rotate with such exact precision that it’s true, that the atomic clock with an error factor of less than 3 seconds per millennium is set by the way they move. Though they silently orbit the sun, the moon, the stars, are like celestial evangelists above. Who circle the earth every 24 hours shouting in every language that there is a God. Atheism is the wedge under the foundation of our faith trying to topple our relationship with Christ. When the fool said in their heart there is no God, he rejects the truth that God painted on the canvas of the night. Atheism has never created an artistic masterpiece, a fatal disease, or calmed a fear. Atheism has never still given answers to our existence, peace to a troubled mind, or even dried a tear. For it is God who created heaven and the earth, and flung the stars in space, and breathed in the handful of dirt and it became man. It’s God who sits on the circle of the earth and measures the mountains on a scale, and holds the seven seas in the palm of His hand. It’s God who sent His only begotten son, to the cross of Calvary to save our souls from hell and the grave, it’s God who creates, God who delivers, God who heals and God who is worthy of a thunderous ovation of praise."  There is a God, by Carmen

One of Lewis's best known arguments is the Trilemma: Liar, Lunatic or Lord. The basis is, assuming that Jesus really made the divine claims the Gospels attribute to him, He left us with three options:
1. He was telling lies and knew he was, so he was a liar,
2. He was telling lies but thought he was telling the truth, so he was a lunatic, or
3. He was telling the truth.
According to Lewis, one cannot logically make the argument that "Jesus was just a very great teacher," for if a man claims to be divine and is not, then he is hardly a great teacher but rather on the level of a man "claiming to be a poached egg".
Advocates of the Trilemma argument must also defend the accuracy of the reports of the claim (i.e., the Gospels). They point out that there is a trilemma involved here as well—the Gospel writers were:
1. Telling lies, and they knew it, so they were liars,
2. Telling lies, but they didn't know it, as they misunderstood, or
3. Telling the truth.

 The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I died
And all that's left is true, exept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Something I hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God lets me walk through this place
And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how you've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames

After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

Here I am at the end of me
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise
There will be a dawn

After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain